Hazan, Petterson ahead in school board races

Union-backed candidates Shana Hazan and Cody Petterson were leading in early results for the San Diego Unified School District board races in Tuesday’s primary election, with Becca Williams and Godwin Higa in second place.

Nonprofit consultant Hazan, retired principal Higa and vehicle service technician Jose Velazquez are running to represent sub-district B of San Diego Unified, which covers the eastern part of the district and includes Patrick Henry (San Carlos), Canyon Hills (Tierrasanta) and Kearny High Schools.

Government affairs manager Petterson, curriculum company manager Williams and parent Lily Higman are running to represent sub-district C, which covers the western part of the district and includes Mission Bay, Point Loma, La Jolla and University City High Schools.

Vote results will continue to be released through June 17 as more ballots are counted, according to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.

Two spots are up for grabs on the San Diego Unified School Board, which oversees California’s second-largest school district with about 95,000 students and a $1.7 billion budget. Current Trustees Kevin Beiser and Michael McQuary, who represent sub-districts B and C respectively, are not running for re-election.

The school board approves the district’s budget and major spending items, hires and evaluates the superintendent, decides districtwide policy initiatives, and more.

The top two vote-getters for each sub-district race will advance to the November election. That election, like the primary, will be by sub-district only.

Out of all six candidates competing in the primary election, Hazan raised and spent the most money. She raised $90,415 in campaign funding, including a $5,000 loan from herself, and she spent $37,500 as of May 21.

Williams raised the second-largest amount of money. She raised $67,798, including a $5,000 loan from herself, and spent $33,540.

Hazan and Petterson also received campaign assistance from the San Diego Unified teachers union, which endorsed both of them.